Northern Noise

Why is it that children push all of their stuff under the bed, time and time again, and then act surprised when parents say "I'm going to look under the bed?" I know I did it as a child, my older ones did it, and my 6 year old is no exception. I don't blame him for trying to get a chore done quickly; it's the look of surprise that gets me. "What? You're going to look UNDER the bed? Why on earth would you do that? Do you think your sweet son would try to get out of cleaning?" So he goes back to his room, comes right back out and comes over and hugs me. "I love you Mama. You're the best mom in the whole world." And he flashes that "aren't I cute?" smile so his dimples show and he bats his eyes. Very cute indeed, but it's not going to work. "I'm still going to look under the bed." "Drats!" he exclaims, again managing to look surprised at my perseverance. My grandmother used to say "D...

Today on the way to school, my son was quiet. Unusually so. When he's quiet, there's often trouble involved, although I could see that he wasn't up to anything. So I asked. Mama: You're awfully quiet today. Whatcha thinking about? Jed: Recess. Mama: What are you thinking about recess? Jed: I'm thinking that today we need to get the high ground. Yesterday, we didn't have the high ground and when the girls attacked and I yelled "Pull back, boys! Pull back!" we didn't have anywhere to pull back too. Today if we get the high ground, we'll win the battle. Who knew 1st grade was such a war zone?

One of the best parts of this whole, newfangled, cell phone craze is picking a ringtone. One my first phones, I had a choice of all the cool tonal sounds provided by Motorola and Nokia. But now that I've entered the iPhone phase, I can not only pick my own ringtones, but I turn any song in my library into a ring tone as well. The quest now is to find the perfect song for each of my frequent callers. Here's what I've got so far - Husband's ringtone is currently the theme from Deliverance. (Cue the banjos & the albino boy, please.) I've considered the intro from Chariots of Fire as well. I had the smooth tones of Queen Latifah's "Poetryman" for awhile, but the kids thought it was cheesy, as was "This Kiss." At times this winter I've considered both "Third Rate Romance" and "Don't Fear the Reaper," but they're probably no-nos.... Daughter 1, the actress and red head has had a few ringtones. Right now s...

I've been on an organizing streak lately. It started with the box and a half of old family photos from my mom & dad that I ended up with. It has continued with my going through all of the other boxes in storage up in the loft. One result has been pictures - everywhere. I've got about 10 photo boxes for Bob and I, organized by year, and then a box for each of the kids. I've also mailed boxes of pictures to my mom, brother, sister, and cousins. Probably the funnest pics to send were the ones to my cousins - one on my mom's side, and one on my dad's. The pictures include trips to Alaska by their much younger parents, looking dapper and utterly 1970's. There's also some "boudoir photos" of my two aunts that were kinda creepy to send, only because I sure wouldn't want to see that kind of picture of my own mother. Ewwww. Some day my own children and grandchildren will look at old pictures of me and my husband and laugh. Seriously, LAUGH. ...

My husband just called that a friend's wife died. She wasn't that old and from what we know right now she had a minor procedure, was in the hospital and then died. Her brother called her husband at work and the assistant principal took him to the airport to fly down to Anchorage. I feel like I want to just burst into tears. Right now my heart is breaking for this poor man. He adored his wife and they were truly good, good people. She made Jed these miniature Carhartt overalls when he was a baby, complete with a Carhartt patch, from recycled grown up overalls. A year and 4 days ago, I got a call at work that my dad died. I'll never forget the sound of my brother's voice on the phone. I hurt so badly for my brother; I think I hurt more for him than I did for myself. I spent this morning in what I thought was the beginning of my big day of "getting stuff done" but now I just want to curl up somewhere and cry. Losing someone to death can't be "fixed...

One year ago today I got the call from my brother that my dad had died. Today, I don't feel sad but I'm sure thinking of the old man. When I went through my dad's stuff, I found the following quote that he had printed off and saved, and then later copied into his journal. I like it. "So died a man both great and good, who, like all the erring human race, mingled some defects with his virtues; yet they were with him so open and natural that they enable us the better to feel the reality of his excellences, as part of a character that is set before us in all its merely human proportions, and claims no ideal perfection"

"In writing, fidelity to fact leads eventually to the poetry of truth." "Good writing can be defined as having something to say and saying it well. When one has nothing to say, one should remain silent. Silence is always beautiful at such times." ~ Edward Abbey I'm thinking about writing this morning, about truth, and poetry and faith. And it's ironic because I'm pondering these concepts while watching NFL football, an example of modern society's desire to return to a gladitorial past and lull the masses with vicarious battle. It's more ironic because I'm contemplating faith and truth after I sent my family off to church, though not necessarily to worship, and I stayed home. This morning I'm worshiping the word and the world. And a good cup of hot coffee.